Overview & Reviews

Why are Honda vehicles so highly regarded by American drivers? Certainly, their excellent reputation for reliability and quality is a major factor. But it also has to do with the overall driving and owning experience. Read any Honda review and you'll likely notice common themes such as thoughtful design, a friendly nature, better-than-average fuel economy and attention to safety.

Japan-based Honda Motor Company was founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda. The company got its start making motorbikes. Japan had been rendered cash poor and fuel-starved after World War II, and its citizens were hurting for an inexpensive, fuel-efficient mode of transportation. Honda's first motorcycles mated engines with bicycles to create a motorbike that was cheap to make and operate.

Honda's bikes quickly evolved into vehicles far more sophisticated than small engines stuck into bicycle frames. The manufacturer's 1949 D-Type could reach speeds of up to 50 mph, and offered front and rear suspension. The 1950s saw the launch of the successful Juno scooter, built to steal market share from the Vespa knockoffs that were popular in Japan at that time. In the latter part of that decade, Honda introduced the ultra-successful C100 Super Cub. The motorbike was remarkably easy to operate and featured a crossbar-free frame that made it popular with women. It went on to become the first Honda motorbike sold in the U.S. via then-new American Honda Co. in 1959.

By the early 1960s, Honda had built its first automobiles for the Japanese home market and entered Formula One racing. But it wasn't until 1970 that it exported its first car, the diminutive N600, to the U.S. The automaker initially had a hard time sparking interest among American buyers, but that all changed in 1973 with the introduction of the Civic. The car was larger than Honda's previous models even though it was still very petite compared to compact American cars. The Civic's high fuel efficiency (an important selling point given that decade's energy crisis) and affordability made it Honda's first American success story. By 1976, the Civic had been joined by the Accord, which quickly became a favorite with U.S. consumers as well.

By the 1980s, Honda's success and its reputation as a maker of well-built reliable cars and motorcycles continued to grow. It began building Accords in the U.S. in 1982 and by 1989 had earned the distinction of making America's most popular car. This was also the decade in which Honda created the Acura brand as a way to sell more upscale and luxurious vehicles. Throughout this decade and into the 1990s, the Civic and Accord were huge sellers and considered class benchmarks. Also during this time, Honda continued to innovate through such technologies as variable valve timing, aluminum body construction and improved safety features.

Today, Honda's lineup runs the gamut. Included are fuel-sipping hybrids, a spacious minivan, reliable family sedans, practical SUVs and even a pickup. Although the latest Civic and Accord aren't quite the benchmarks they once were for their respective classes, Honda's brand as a whole continues to be one of the most well respected in the industry, with millions of loyal and satisfied customers.

User Reviews:

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  Love it - 2003 Honda Accord
  By RocketStar - December 27 - 2:00 am

  love the smooth drive. everything is wonderful except the infamous real tail light. It doesnt look right.

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  Great city car, not bad all-around - 2009 Honda Fit
  By TomB - December 26 - 11:43 pm

  We got this looking for a cheaper and more versatile replacement for a Lexus IS, and have been very pleased. Fit-and-finish are excellent despite some cheap materials. Weve been getting ~30 MPG in city driving, and got 33 on a highway trip with two adults, two kids in car seats, and luggage. The transmission needs to downshift to maintain 70 MPH on steeper grades, but does so pretty unobtrusively. More hamsters under the hood wouldnt hurt. Road noise is OK for the price. Low-speed handling is excellent, but the Fit feels tall in tight turns at speed. Navi is very easy to use. The USB connector works fine with iPhone and a 1st-gen iPod nano.

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  Almost Great - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Nole Man - December 26 - 11:43 am

  I really like the overall practicality of this vehicle. Its roomy and not bad if you have to carry passengers in the 3rd row. For short trips at least. The only beef I have is the quality of the interior materials in certain places. Things like the air vents, climate control knobs are made from some of the flimsiest plastic Ive ever seen in a car. I expect more from Honda.

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  Five Years to Write this Review - 2008 Honda Ridgeline
  By lik2bik - December 26 - 9:29 am

  Wow! So much to say, so little space. I have been looking and researching this segment for nearly five years. I really wanted a Tacoma, but even with the low car sales plaguing the industry, Toyota didnt want to play. Honda immediately offered me an incredible deal on this 08 RTS that I didnt need any more incentive- I snatched it up. This is an incredibly smart truck- all space is usable seats are comfortable, even in the back where I was concerned most because this often overlooked space is easiest to get cheapest attention (Chevy Colorado). Absolutely the smartest design in this category (if youre looking for heavy hauling, look to full size trucks) fits me like a glove. LUV IT!

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  It goes a Lonfg way - 2005 Honda Accord
  By Jeff Elwell - December 26 - 8:56 am

  I travel to Phila on a regular basis. Ive never had the pleasure of traveling to Phila on one tank of gas and having over a eighth of a tank left. Its a very quiet car. Sometimes I must check my tach. to verify that its running. I love the XM radioin it. I never thought I would but it makes those long drives go faster. Speaking of faster, Ive had it up to 120+MPH on more than one occasion. Nothing vibrated or fell off for over 30 seconds at that speed. Even a State troper pulled along side as I was decelerating from one of these high speed events,( I thought I had it), and mouthed a "wow- A hybrid?" along with a please slow down jesture. I did! He let me go . He must have been impressed

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  1990 Honda Hatch Civic - 1990 Honda Civic
  By Philup - December 25 - 7:56 pm

  Ive had my Civic for at least mths and I love it. I have modded it some, far has halo projector headlight, smoked turn signals, fog lights, intake n such. I have maintained it extremely well. I love it, the car is fun to drive, easy to park, the carb will play with ya sometimes far as power but overall the car is wonderful. I will prob keep it long as it runs and then get a small rebuild kit and drive it some more!

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  Ugly is beautiful - 2005 Honda Element
  By max - December 25 - 5:06 pm

  Based on about 8,000 miles of use my Element may be the best car Ive owned...I bought my firstcar in 1949. After a 2800 mile trip I was not fatigued at all (Im 72). This is the perfect car for people who want to downsize from the gas guzzling dinosaurs which are currently destroying family budgets because of the cost of gasoline. My friend who is 67" sat in my Element recently and remarked that there was more head room than he had found in any other car.

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  Amazing Buy - Great value for money - 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By Kiran - December 25 - 8:56 am

  I was one of the first few who bought this vehicle (dec 09), when the media was kicking off dust over its styling. Myself and my wife fell in love with styling of this car with our first look at it. Build quality is true to Honda and is very good. Rear visibility felt little compromised in the beginning, but then you will quickly get over that, especially once you start noticing the view below the spoiler. Turning radius is little less compared to accord which I was used to, but its matter of few days by which you will get over it. Its is fantastic vehicle, gives Smooth and excellent ride, adequate power, quiet interiors and ample space. Vehicle feels very tight, sturdy and sporty!

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  HONDA IS THE BEST - 2016 Honda CR-V
  By Sean Wolford - December 25 - 12:07 am

  Shop around to get best price..Thank You Edmunds...You provided me best price..

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  Love the 3rd-gen Pilot - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By GrimusTimus - December 24 - 7:15 pm

  Preface: Weve put about 1000 miles on our Pilot so far. We intend to pull our high-wall pop-up camper with our EX-L AWD and have equipped it to handle the 3700 GVWR of the camper. I will edit this review (or add another) once weve had a chance to test-out towing performance. Everything about this mid-size SUV is awesome. Performance, handling, utility, function, comfort ... all hit high marks with us. The Pilot is primarily my wifes vehicle and previously she drove a 2nd-gen Honda CRV. We had looked at the 2nd-gen Pilots and she felt like she was driving a truck (which I liked of course). While it is still certainly a bigger (looking and feeling) vehicle than the CRV, the 3rd-gen Pilot does drive much "smaller" than the previous generations of the Pilot. I will admit that the steering was a little different at first. The feedback is so soft, that I initially believed that the head must be drive-by-wire; however, a quick glance under the dash and there is most definitely a steering shaft from the head down through the firewall. This doesnt make the Pilot difficult to drive or respond to steering adjustments; however, I would prefer just a little more feedback in the system. As we drive it more and more, this becomes much less noticeable (and perhaps break-in is delivering more and more feedback in the system...IDK.) Performance is awesome and loaded-up with 7 has had no problems passing on any roadway. I "accidentally" found out that 100 mph is quickly achieved when passing a very slow group of 3 cars on a remote 2-lane highway. Acceleration from 45 -to- "oops 98" was quite surprising when I made that pass. As mentioned earlier, I am intrigued to see how it pulls our camper. Previously we had been pulling it with a full-size, half-ton truck (V8) and I am expecting our trips will be a little slower and cumbersome. I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised (this 3.5 V6 does have almost as much torque as my truck did.) Overall, I would highly recommend the 3rd-gen Pilot. Im no car snob (unless were talking about old muscle cars), but this is the finest vehicle Ive ever owned. I am admittedly partial to Hondas as I have been riding, driving, or pushing (mowers) them for four decades now.